Shoe last



Oct. 13, 1927; 1,645,716

- J. KLNORTHRUP SHOE LAST Filed Jan.23, 1926 Jail-urngys. I

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOSHUA KING NORTHRUP, OF ELLICOTTVILLE, NEW YORK.

SHOE LAST.

Application filed January 23, 1926. Serial No. 83,373.

V This invention relates to a sectional last of the type which may be shortened by sliding the heel part on the fore part to permit the application and removal of the shoe to and from the last.

One of its objects is to provide a simple and inexpensive last of this character having improved means for permitting the sliding action of its parts toa certain extent but preventing their complete separation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of. means for readily eifectfng the unlocking of the last-sections by simply turning the'last about the axis of the ack-spindle or supporting post. 7

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved last, showing the parts in their locked position on the jack-spindle. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section thereof showing the parts in their unlocked and shortened position, the last having been turned about the spindle to assume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Figure 8 is a horizontal section on line 33, Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The last consists of a heel part 10 and a fore part 11, which are slidably connected along the inclined joint line 12 to permit shortening of the last in effecting the application and removal of the shoe to and from i the same. The adjoining faces of these parts are provided with oppositely-facing shoulders 13, 14 to insure the top and bottom portions of the heel section being flush with the corresponding portions of the fore part section when such parts are set in the locked position shown in Fig. 1. To hold the sections against lateral relative displacement and pulling apart lengthwise, one of them is provided with a dovetail tongue 15 which engages a corresponding groove 16 in the other part. i

The last-sections are preferably made of metal and the fore part 11 has a recess 17 for receiving a renewable wooden or other sole 18 suitably fastened thereto.

To hold the parts of the last securely together and prevent any relative sliding movement thereof, when inuse, a locking de vice is provided consisting of a sleeve 19 contained in an opening 20 in the heel part 10 which intersects the customary jackspindle socket 21 thereof, and a socket 22 in thefore part 11 arranged in line with said opening 20 and containing a spring pressed locking bolt 23 adapted to project into lock ng engagement with the opposlng end of the sleeve in the heel part. Cooperatmg with this locking bolt and slidably mounted in the sleeve 19 is a releasing pin 24; to which a spring 25 is applied for nor mally tending'to hold it in its retracted position.

The upper end of the jack-spindle 26 j ack-spindle is provided at its upper end and in one side thereof with a notch or recess 27 forming a peripheral. cam face 28 against which the opposing end of the releasing pin is adapted to bear. In the locked position of the last-sections, shown in Fig. 1 and by full lines in Fig. 3, this pin projects into the jack-spindle notch and the locking bolt extends across the joint line 12. Whenever it is desired to unlock the sections and slide the fore part on the heel part to shorten the last to apply or remove the shoe, the last is simply given a fraction of a turn in one direction or the other, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, forcing the pin 24 in the proper direction to release-the locking bolt from the sleeve 19.

In order to prevent the complete separation of the last-sections during the shortening operation thereof, means are provided for limiting the extent of the sliding action of one section on its companion section. To this end, the heel part 10 is provided near its upper end with a pin 29 which extends across the joint line 12 into an upright slot or recess 30 formed in the adjoining face of the fore part 11, as shown in Fig. 2. This simple arrangement, while permitting the necessary sliding movement of the sections for the purposes desired, effectually guards against accidental disconnection of the sections, thereby affording a saving in time in the use of such lasts. The outer end of the pin 29 has a screw-threaded portion 31, whereby it can be adjusted to readily bring the same into or out of engagment with the recess 30.

By withdrawing the pin 29 from its slot 30 in the fore-part section 11, a new or differently-shaped" fore part may befsubstituted for it, permitting the same heel section 10 to be used repeatedly.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a jack-spindle having a notch at its upper end, of a shoe last comprising heel and fore part sections,

theheel section having a circular socket for receiving said spindle, and means for lockingjthe sect-ions, said locking means including; a retractible part normally arranged for: engagement with the side Wallof the nected heel and fore part sections, the heel 7 section having. a. socket for receiving. said spindle andbeing rotatable about the latter means for locking the last-sections, and releasable means for operating said locking means, the releasablemeansbeing normally arranged for engagmenb withther cam face of said spindle, whereby upon turning the last about the spindle-axis said releasable means'is-iactuated' in awdireetion to unlock said locking means.

3. The combination with a jack-spindle projecting into the other section. and: a"

spring-pressed releasing pin mounted in the heel section and arrangedto engage said locking bolt, the releasing pin normally projecting into the spindle-socket for engagment; with the notched end of the spindle, whereby upon turning the last about i the spindleaxis, said releasing pin is engaged with the unnotched side of the spindle toforce the releasing. pin in a direction to move the locking bolt to its unlockedposition.

JosHUA KING NORTHRUP. 

